From left to right, Linda DeClet, Johanna C. Quinones, Luz A. Lopez-Miranda and Brenda Sanchez of The Medical Wives Hat Club discuss fundraising events to help with their goal of buying 20 new computers for the Head Start program in Beeville.

BEEVILLE – There’s a colorful new group of women in town, and it won’t be easy to miss their enthusiastic smiles showing from underneath their large, flowery hats.

Six ladies make up the newly-formed Medical Wives Hat Club, organized to help the Beeville community in any way they can.

The organization is made up of Founder/President Johanna Quinones, Vice President Linda G. DeClet, Secretary Luz A. Lopez-Miranda, Secretary of Treasury Brenda Sanchez, and board members Jan Stein and Debora Calica.

“We are a nonprofit organization raising money dependent on community needs,” DeClet explained. “And the hats just fit with the acronym.”

The group’s slogan is “Giving our Hearts And Time back to the community.”

“Well, the hats might also be to call a little attention to our group, so people will ask about us and what we’re doing,” Sanchez added.

“We met and agreed that we wanted to start a group to raise money to help the community,” Quinones explained.

“A few weeks ago we decided to put together a ladies hat club. Our husbands all happen to be in the medical field, so we called our club ‘The Medical Wives Hat Club.’ Our main purpose is to be of help to the community.”

So what’s first on the club’s agenda?

“Our goal this year is to provide 20 new computers for the Beeville Head Start program,” Quinones said.

The ladies were not hesitant to address the recent controversy surrounding the Head Start program in Beeville.

“People have asked us why we chose Head Start,” Lopez-Miranda said. “It’s been part of the Beeville community for a long time, and especially now when it’s having setbacks, it needs the community’s support.”

“When things get difficult is the time for the community to stand up and help. They need money, but they also need volunteers, so there’s several ways that people can help.”

Lopez-Miranda clarified that they are not just giving away money; they are planning to use the money that they raise to buy computers, then donate the computers to Head Start.

“In the end, it doesn’t matter who is running the organization,” Sanchez added, “We know it’s controversial, but we believe in the Head Start program, and we want to help because they need it.”

“Kids are our future.”

The ladies have put together a “Ladies Luncheon and Fundraising Event” to be held on May 15 at 11:30 a.m. at the Bee Community Center.

They plan on making and serving Puerto Rican cuisine for the event. “We are doctors’ wives, so we can bake and cook,” Quinones said with a laugh. “There is a misconception that doctors’ wives don’t do much, but we are busy! We are passionate about this—about our club and about volunteering.”

The group has a Facebook page, but so far they’ve just been trying to spread the word about their organization through word of mouth. They also have plans to attend Market Days events in surrounding counties.

“This is just the beginning. We want to encourage people to get involved in the community and help,” DeClet said. “We also plan to start an annual scholarship fund in the future.”

To find out more about the group or to donate, call Johanna Quinones at 361-319-3050 or Linda DeClet at 361-652-5211.

Lindsey Shaffer is the regional editor at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 119, or at regional@mySouTex.com.